I Dare You To Eat It

Storage Ingredients

2 c. cooked whole wheat berries

3/4 c. Cream Of Wheat (non-instant variety)

1/2 tsp. salt

4 c. water (1-2 c. dehydrated milk powder may be added for extra creaminess and nutrition)

Bring water and salt to a boil. (Or, if using milk, bring just to a boil.) Gradually add Cream Of Wheat, stirring constantly with wire whisk until well blended. Return to a boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer, uncovered, 2-1/2 minutes or until thickened, stirring frequently. Add cooked whole wheat berries. Serve with brown sugar or honey and milk.

This is a crazy little hot breakfast porridge that isn’t quite as intense as a bowl of whole wheat berries, straight up. The leftovers can be stored in a square cake pan and cut into pieces, sort of like bread pudding, (right) and microwaved on an as needed basis all week long.

Years ago, one of my good friends who lives in New York, told me about her testimony of pancakes. During a very difficult period of time when her husband was unemployed, she learned to stretch the family’s food budget by serving pancakes for dinner at least a couple of times each week. Her five children loved the meal and were happy for a break from the typical main course and vegetables. They didn’t recognize it as a hardship.

Years later, I still remember standing in her kitchen, admiring her ability to adapt in trying times, and realizing that I could stand to learn from that example. She taught me how small and simple changes can make a big difference.

Fresh Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef

15 10″ tortillas

toppings: baby spinach leaves, grated cheese, diced tomato, avocado, cilantro, and Ranch dressing

Storage Ingredients

2 c. cooked whole wheat berries

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. paprika

2 tsp. chili powder

* 1 packet of taco seasoning may be used as a substitution for individual spices

Brown ground beef and drain fat. Stir in the cooked wheat berries and spices. Spoon meat mixture onto warm tortillas and top with fresh baby spinach, grated cheese, diced tomato, avocado, cilantro, and Ranch dressing.

During one of my food storage presentations a woman shared how she substitutes cooked whole wheat berries for ground beef. She seasons it just as you normally would for tacos to create a very healthy vegetarian alternative. If that sounds too hard core, consider giving this recipe a try. I made them for my daughter that lives in Oregon and she thought they were amazing. Hippie tacos is her name for our little culinary invention. Guess she’s in the zone.